{"product_id":"exquisite-fairy-wrasse","title":"Exquisite Fairy Wrasse | Cirrhilabrus exquisitus","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Exquisite Fairy Wrasse lives up to its name, an active and richly coloured wrasse that adds constant movement and flashes of colour to a reef aquarium. Reaching around 12 cm, males intensify their colours dramatically when displaying. It is a peaceful, reef-safe fish that suits most established community reefs, provided the tank has a tight-fitting lid.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis species is found across the Indo-Pacific and East African reefs, typically over rubble zones and the edges of coral slopes at moderate depth. It swims actively above the substrate through the day, picking zooplankton from the water column and retreating into the rockwork at night. In the aquarium it does best in a mature reef with plenty of live rock, open swimming space and a sandy bed. A settled system with an established pod population helps it thrive and colour up.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMales are the more colourful sex, showing combinations of red, orange, green and blue that brighten intensely during courtship \"flashing\" displays. Females and juveniles are more subdued but still attractive. The body is streamlined and the fish swims with the rowing pectoral motion typical of wrasses. A healthy specimen is alert, full-bodied and feeds eagerly, with clear eyes and undamaged fins.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTemperament is peaceful, and this wrasse mixes well in a community reef. Multiple males may squabble, so keep one male per tank unless the aquarium is very large, though a male with several females can work well. It coexists happily with most reef fish and is not a threat to corals. Because it is peaceful, avoid housing it with very aggressive or much larger fish that may bully or outcompete it at feeding time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a micro-carnivore that feeds on zooplankton and small invertebrates. Offer frequent small feedings of frozen mysis, enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood and a quality marine pellet or flake. A mature tank with live rock and copepods provides valuable natural grazing between feeds. Feeding two or three small portions a day keeps colours strong and condition good.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of around 200 L, with 300 L or larger recommended for long-term comfort and swimming room. Maintain temperature at 24–27°C, pH 8.1–8.4 and salinity around 1.020–1.026. Moderate flow, good filtration and stable water quality suit it well. The single most important requirement is a tight-fitting lid, as fairy wrasses are notorious jumpers and will readily leap through small gaps, especially when first introduced or startled.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBreeding is uncommon in the home aquarium. Like most wrasses, Cirrhilabrus species are protogynous hermaphrodites, with females able to transform into males, and they spawn by releasing eggs and sperm into the water column. The pelagic larvae are difficult to rear without specialised planktonic foods, so for most keepers the goal is long-term health and colour rather than captive breeding.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCirrhilabrus exquisitus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExquisite Fairy Wrasse\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIndo-Pacific and East African reefs\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–8 years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e300 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMicro-carnivore; frozen mysis, brine and marine pellets\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–27°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.1–8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable for marine fish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.020–1.026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEstablished reef and community marine systems\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include tangs, clownfish, dwarf angels, gobies, blennies, other peaceful wrasses and most reef-safe community fish, along with corals and sessile invertebrates.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with very aggressive or much larger fish that may bully it, and avoid keeping multiple males together in all but the largest aquariums.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55234131853603,"sku":null,"price":50.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55234131886371,"sku":"AA2661","price":60.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55234131919139,"sku":null,"price":70.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Exquisite_Fairy_Wrasse_Cirrhilabrus_exquisitus_8b351fe3-a31f-4e24-a969-e7035c62e11b.jpg?v=1781681623","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/exquisite-fairy-wrasse","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}